Punta Cana

I had the privilege this summer to visit the tropical paradise of Punta Cana. In addition to enjoying the vacation, I was able to learn about a new culture. Punta Cana is located in the Dominican Republic, which is a small country sharing the island of Hispanolia with Haiti. Hispanolia, the second largest island in the Caribbean, was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492 in his voyage to the New World. The Dominican Republic has rolling, multi-colored hills due to the exotic plants that grow there.

Katie Ellen Shipley and Todd Matthew Garland were married Aug. 10 at Dreams Resort, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The Rev. Rick York performed the ceremony. Maid of honor was Emily Shipley, sister of the bride. Matron of honor was Carrie Seslow, sister of the bride. Bridesmaids were Leslie Hinton and Melissa Bittner. Best man was Derek Garland, brother of the bridegroom. Groomsmen were Aman Brar, Michael Seslow, Pat Tracy and Brendan Trossen. Ring bearer was Logan Seslow, nephew of the bride.

Nicole Jo Bertolini and Tyson Evans Cook were married July 23 at All Saints Parish, Boswell. Rev. Daniel Fink performed the ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Betty and Joe Bertolini, Boswell. The bridegroom is the son of Amy and Jeff Cook, Somerset. Maid of honor was Vicki McGee, sister of the bride. The bridesmaids were Melissa Hostetler, Allison Cook, Heather Lambert, Jennifer Budzina, Stacy Spiker and Zoë McGee. Best man was Sean Cook, brother of the bridegroom.

Erin M. Ridilla and John S. Bowman, Fairmont, W.Va., were married Sept. 15, at Green Gables. The bride is the daughter of Michael and Karen Ridilla, Boswell. The bridegroom is the son of Jefferson and Alice Bowman, Kingwood, W.Va. The bride was attended by Valerie Sedney, sister of the bride. The bridegroom?s attendant was Matthew Moyer. The flower girls were Maggie Ridilla and Rayne Ridilla, nieces of the bride. The wedding reception was held at Green Gables and Huddleson Court.

Erin Marie Zimmerman and Pete John Putyrski, both of Friedens, were married July 14, at the Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church. The Rev. Arthur Black performed the ceremony. The bride is the daughter of David and Patricia Zimmerman, Friedens. She was attended by matron of honor, Kristy Stephens, sister of the bride and maid of honor, Maggie Blank. Bridesmaids were Ursula Stein, Heidi Illar, Heather Speelman and Glenna Putyrski, sister of the bridegroom. Flower girls were Kendahl Stutzman and Krista Speelman.

Susan Renee Kreger and Jeffrey Lyndon Hobbs Jr., both of Meyersdale, where married May 5 at SS. Philip and James Catholic Church, Meyersdale. The double-ring ceremony was performed by the Very Rev. James Dugan, VF. The bride is the daughter of Dave and Amy Kreger, Markleton. The bridegroom is the son of Jeff and Bernedette Hobbs, Meyersdale. Matron of honor was Heather College, sister of the bride. Bridesmaids were: Erica Hobbs, sister of bridegroom; Angela Kreger, sister of the bride; Rebecca Kennick, Diana Meyers and Laurie Kretchman.

Dottie Buxton and Jeff Ely were married Sept. 24 at the First United Methodist Church, Somerset. Rev. Patricia M. Nelson performed the ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Debborah and Gordon Sanner. The bridegroom is the son of Betty Ely and the late Carl Ely. The bride was escorted to the altar by her father. Maid of honor was Charlene Robinson, sister of the bride. Best man was Christopher Yaroch. Ushers were Scott Buxton and Arttie Robinson, both brothers of the bride.

Carrie Elizabeth Heiple and Brian Dominic Lizambri were united in marriage July 1 at Penn Scenic View. The Rev. Terry Coughenour performed the double-ring ceremony. The bride was escorted down the isle by her father, Jesse Heiple. She was attended to by matron of honor, Tina Heiple, her mother; maid of honor, Ryan Markley; bridesmaids, Stephene Heiple, Melissa Mimna, Nicole Montgomery and Lindsay Shawver. Flower girl was Megan Lizambri, niece of the bridegroom. Avery Heiple, nephew of the bride, was ringbearer.

Alicia Jo Fochtman and Edward Noel McCarty were married Oct. 9 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, New Baltimore. The Rev. Father Mark Begly performed the ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Wayne V. and Theresa Fochtman, Berlin. The bridegroom is the son of the late Charles McCarty and Sherrie McCarty, Hancock, Md. The matron of honor was Tammy Brick. The bridesmaids were Heather Brakeall, Melissa Stoe, Kelly Murphy, Stacey Bridegum, Brandee Smith and Rebecca Ruppenthal.

Lauren Pringle and Scott Pyle were united in marriage Aug. 5, at a double-ring ceremony held at St. Peter's Catholic Church, Somerset. Monsignor Samuel Tomaselli officiated. Lauren is the daughter of Thomas and Jessie Pringle, Somerset. She was escorted to the altar by her father. Matron of honor was Megan Knopsnyder. Bridesmaids were Kathy Stull, Jennifer Hinzy, Nicole Strelko and Emily Steele. Haliegh Jo Hinzy was the flower girl and Colton Hoffman was ringbearer. Scott is the son of Kenneth and Linda Pyle, Somerset.

"Hola" (Pronounced Ola, the H is silent but the joy is apparent) is heard a thousand times a day in Punta Cana. It is a greeting, like "Hi" or "Whassup?" that is called out to any and all of their friends, or people who would soon be their friends. In a land of palm trees and thatched roofs, the sun beats down and the smiles keep coming. And coming. A little stone road, connecting the resort, was only wide enough for the mini-trucks carrying clean sheets and towels in the mornings and then the dirty laundry filled with sandy beach towels in the afternoons.

After a March filled with snow and low temperatures, it seems locals are dreaming of sun and sand. The phone has been ringing almost constantly at Mary Trofino's office in Westmont. Trofino, who owns Trofino Tri-Star Travel Inc., has seen the ups and downs of the travel industry over the past 25 years. She said the busy season for booking summer vacations is January to March, but this year's extended wintry weather has more families than usual itching to get out of town. “People are traveling again, especially from our area, when winters are so long and so dreary,” Trofino said.

I had the privilege this summer to visit the tropical paradise of Punta Cana. In addition to enjoying the vacation, I was able to learn about a new culture. Punta Cana is located in the Dominican Republic, which is a small country sharing the island of Hispanolia with Haiti. Hispanolia, the second largest island in the Caribbean, was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492 in his voyage to the New World. The Dominican Republic has rolling, multi-colored hills due to the exotic plants that grow there.

Katie Ellen Shipley and Todd Matthew Garland were married Aug. 10 at Dreams Resort, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The Rev. Rick York performed the ceremony. Maid of honor was Emily Shipley, sister of the bride. Matron of honor was Carrie Seslow, sister of the bride. Bridesmaids were Leslie Hinton and Melissa Bittner. Best man was Derek Garland, brother of the bridegroom. Groomsmen were Aman Brar, Michael Seslow, Pat Tracy and Brendan Trossen. Ring bearer was Logan Seslow, nephew of the bride.

Christy J. Croner and Justin Poorbaugh were married July 5 at the Somerset Country Club. The bride was escorted to the altar by her father. Maid of honor was Candace Croner. Matron of honor was Cassey DeBiase. Bridesmaid was Tara Vancil. Best man was Eddie Poorbaugh. Ushers were Chris Legros and Valdez Hails. A reception was held at Somerset Country Club. The couple honeymooned at Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. The bride is the daughter of Carol and Norman Croner, Berlin.

Erin M. Ridilla and John S. Bowman, Fairmont, W.Va., were married Sept. 15, at Green Gables. The bride is the daughter of Michael and Karen Ridilla, Boswell. The bridegroom is the son of Jefferson and Alice Bowman, Kingwood, W.Va. The bride was attended by Valerie Sedney, sister of the bride. The bridegroom?s attendant was Matthew Moyer. The flower girls were Maggie Ridilla and Rayne Ridilla, nieces of the bride. The wedding reception was held at Green Gables and Huddleson Court.

Erin Marie Zimmerman and Pete John Putyrski, both of Friedens, were married July 14, at the Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church. The Rev. Arthur Black performed the ceremony. The bride is the daughter of David and Patricia Zimmerman, Friedens. She was attended by matron of honor, Kristy Stephens, sister of the bride and maid of honor, Maggie Blank. Bridesmaids were Ursula Stein, Heidi Illar, Heather Speelman and Glenna Putyrski, sister of the bridegroom. Flower girls were Kendahl Stutzman and Krista Speelman.

Susan Renee Kreger and Jeffrey Lyndon Hobbs Jr., both of Meyersdale, where married May 5 at SS. Philip and James Catholic Church, Meyersdale. The double-ring ceremony was performed by the Very Rev. James Dugan, VF. The bride is the daughter of Dave and Amy Kreger, Markleton. The bridegroom is the son of Jeff and Bernedette Hobbs, Meyersdale. Matron of honor was Heather College, sister of the bride. Bridesmaids were: Erica Hobbs, sister of bridegroom; Angela Kreger, sister of the bride; Rebecca Kennick, Diana Meyers and Laurie Kretchman.

Lauren Pringle and Scott Pyle were united in marriage Aug. 5, at a double-ring ceremony held at St. Peter's Catholic Church, Somerset. Monsignor Samuel Tomaselli officiated. Lauren is the daughter of Thomas and Jessie Pringle, Somerset. She was escorted to the altar by her father. Matron of honor was Megan Knopsnyder. Bridesmaids were Kathy Stull, Jennifer Hinzy, Nicole Strelko and Emily Steele. Haliegh Jo Hinzy was the flower girl and Colton Hoffman was ringbearer. Scott is the son of Kenneth and Linda Pyle, Somerset.

Candice Joy Custer and Anthony William DiPasquale were married Aug. 12 at Saints Phillip and James Catholic Church, Meyersdale. The Rev. James Dugan and the Rev. Timothy Resh performed the ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Gregory Custer and Tracey Custer, Berlin. She was escorted to the altar by her father. Maid of honor was Christin Hammel. Bridesmaids were Laurie Stern, Mindy Cochran, Abby Vough, Jonna Emerick, cousin of the bride, Susan and Kristy DiPasquale, sisters-in-law of the bridegroom.